A groundbreaking discovery on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi has unveiled the oldest known figurative cave art, dating back at least 51,200 years. This remarkable find, made by a collaborative team of Australian and Indonesian researchers, features a depiction of a wild pig accompanied by three human-like figures, predating the previous record-holder by over 5,000 years.

Unveiling Ancient Creativity

Professor Maxime Aubert from Griffith University in Australia emphasized the significance of this discovery in altering our understanding of human evolution. Speaking to BBC News, he highlighted that this ancient painting offers a profound glimpse into early human abstract thinking and storytelling capabilities. “The painting tells a complex story. It is the oldest piece of evidence we have for storytelling. It shows that humans at the time had the capacity to think in abstract terms,” he remarked.

The Detailed Depiction

Located in the limestone cave of Leang Karampuang in South Sulawesi's Maros-Pangkep region, the artwork portrays a pig standing with its mouth partially open and three human-like figures around it. One figure appears to extend both arms while holding a rod. Another stands directly in front of the pig, with its head close to the animal's snout, seemingly holding a stick that might touch the pig’s throat. The third figure is depicted upside-down, legs splayed, with a hand reaching towards the pig's head.

The Research Team and Significance

Led by Adhi Agus Oktaviana, an Indonesian rock art specialist from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Jakarta, the team underscores the role of narrative storytelling in early human culture. Oktaviana noted, “Humans have probably been telling stories for much longer than 51,200 years, but as words do not fossilize, we can only go by indirect proxies like depictions of scenes in art, and the Sulawesi art is now the oldest such evidence by far that is known to archaeology.”

Evolution of Artistic Expression

While geometric patterns found in South Africa’s Blombos Caves dating back 75,000 to 100,000 years represent early human drawing, they do not constitute representational art. The newly discovered painting in Sulawesi, however, marks a significant evolutionary step, showcasing abstract representation of the surrounding world and indicating advanced cognitive processes.

Exploring the Origins of Abstract Thought

Dr. Henry Gee, senior editor at the journal Nature, where the findings were published, speculated on what might have spurred this cognitive awakening in humans around 50,000 years ago. “Something seems to have happened around 50,000 years ago, shortly after which all other species of humans, such as Neanderthals and the so-called Hobbit, died out,” he said. He suggested that there might be even earlier examples of representational art yet to be discovered.

Implications for Archaeology

This discovery challenges the previously Eurocentric view that abstract thought and art originated in Western Europe, a perspective largely based on ancient cave paintings found in Spain and Southern France. In recent years, however, findings in Sulawesi, including colored hand outlines from 2014 and a 40,000-year-old animal painting in Borneo from 2018, have highlighted Southeast Asia's pivotal role in early human artistic development.

Professor Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London commented on the broader implications, suggesting that more ancient representational art might be found in Africa, where modern humans first evolved. “This find reinforces the idea that representational art was first produced in Africa before 50,000 years ago, and the concept spread as our species spread,” he said.

Advances in Dating Techniques

The precise dating of the Sulawesi cave art was facilitated by a novel method involving laser-cutting minute samples from the artwork. This technique allows for more detailed and accurate analysis, potentially leading to the re-dating of other cave art sites worldwide and further pushing back the timeline of human artistic expression.

A New Perspective on Human History

Adam Brumm from Griffith University highlighted the significance of these findings in understanding early human storytelling. “It is noteworthy that the oldest cave art we have found in Sulawesi thus far consists of recognizable scenes: that is, paintings that depict humans and animals interacting in such a way that we can infer the artist intended to communicate a narrative of some kind—a story,” he explained.

This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of early human creativity but also underscores the importance of narrative in the development of human culture, offering a deeper appreciation of our species’ cognitive and artistic evolution.